Family · Rosids
Cucurbitaceae
Gourds — melon, squash, cucumber
Gourd family: tendril-climbing vines bearing fleshy fruits, including cucumbers, melons, squashes and pumpkins.
- Accepted species
- 1,072accepted names · Kew WCVP
- Genera
- 95accepted genera · Kew WCVP
- Origin
- ≈36 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
- Centre of diversity
- Southern Americamost native species · WGSRPD
Open Cucurbitaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.›
Plants you might know
- Cucumis (cucumber/melon)
- Cucurbita (squash)
- Citrullus (watermelon)
Largest genera
Trichosanthes106 spp.
Sicyos79 spp.
Cayaponia78 spp.
Zehneria73 spp.
Cucumis64 spp.
Momordica53 spp.
Gurania48 spp.
Cyclanthera46 spp.
Coccinia28 spp.
Thladiantha28 spp.
Hemsleya27 spp.
Apodanthera25 spp.
Kedrostis22 spp.
Peponium20 spp.
Cucurbita19 spp.
Echinopepon19 spp.
Gynostemma17 spp.
Corallocarpus15 spp.
Melothria12 spp.
Neoalsomitra12 spp.
Ceratosanthes11 spp.
Bryonia10 spp.
Schizocarpum10 spp.
Luffa9 spp.
Sicydium9 spp.
Trochomeria9 spp.
Eureiandra8 spp.
Fevillea8 spp.
Ibervillea8 spp.
Marah8 spp.
Papuasicyos8 spp.
Schizopepon8 spp.
Citrullus7 spp.
Gomphogyne7 spp.
Hanburia7 spp.
Ampelosycios6 spp.
Lagenaria6 spp.
Psiguria6 spp.
Seyrigia6 spp.
Xerosicyos6 spp.
Diplocyclos5 spp.
Gerrardanthus5 spp.
Herpetospermum5 spp.
Pteropepon5 spp.
Raphidiocystis5 spp.
Sinobaijiania5 spp.
Wilbrandia5 spp.
Austrobryonia4 spp.
Calycophysum4 spp.
Cionosicys4 spp.
Sicana4 spp.
Siraitia4 spp.
Solena4 spp.
Blastania3 spp.
Cyclantheropsis3 spp.
Helmontia3 spp.
Hodgsonia3 spp.
Telfairia3 spp.
Actinostemma2 spp.
Benincasa2 spp.
The 35 smaller genera are in the interactive tree.
Where it grows
- Southern America326
- Africa285
- Asia-Tropical242
- Asia-Temperate181
- Northern America154
- Australasia37
- Pacific27
- Europe4
Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.
Related families
Cucurbitaceae sits in the order Cucurbitales.